Dos and Don’ts of Bathroom Renovations

A renovation gone well will provide you with a space you can relax in, enjoy and be proud of every single day. However a renovation gone wrong will remind you of that fact every time you see it, which for a bathroom will be pretty often. A bathroom is a space that is usually physically smaller than a lot of other rooms in your home but, interestingly enough, it is one of the rooms that get the most use in the entire home. With that in mind a great renovation will not only be a space that looks amazing but will also provide smooth functionality day in and day out for you and your family. With that in mind here are some dos and don’ts of bathroom renovations to make sure you get the most out of your investment for both time and money.

Dos

Budget for the Unknown

If you are doing a complete overhaul of your bathroom there could be hidden issues like mold or mildew damage behind your shower walls that you would have no way to know about. You need to have contingency budget in both time and money for how to deal with these surprises should you run into them.

Hide the Toilet

Doesn’t everyone know we have a toilet in the bathroom? Well, yes but that does not mean it has to be right in your face the minute you walk into the bathroom. By constructing a wall between the toilet and the rest of your bathroom it makes your bathroom feel a little more fancy and high end, and it will also provide function and little more privacy to the bathroom.

Go All Out on the Shower

The shower is used much more frequently than the bathtub is, so it is not a bad idea to splurge a little on the shower. If you count how often you use your bathtub for a bath and not just because it is the tub/shower combination you will soon realize a walk in shower is a solid and wise investment. However if you only have one full bathroom in the house consider keeping a stand alone tub, if you have the space, as it is not recommended for resale if you do not have any tub in the whole house.

Go Green

If you are redoing your bathroom chances are you are doing it because it is dated, and with it so are all the fixtures in your bathroom. With that in mind take this opportunity to replace as many fixtures as your budget allows for with environmentally friendly and water efficient fixtures. This includes faucets, toilets and shower heads.

Make Some Room

Chances are your vanity is used to get ready in the morning and that is its main purpose, so take this renovation to make, or create, some room on your vanity so you are not just stuffing things anywhere. Take some time to think about how you use this area of your bathroom and design it accordingly.

Put in Appropriate Lighting and Ventilation

Your bathroom is a small room, and probably does not have a lot of natural light in it nor will it have large windows to provide ventilation. With this in mind you will want to consider how your room is lit and how you will ventilate the steam and moisture that results from hot baths and showers. If you do not have proper ventilation the moisture will gather on the wall and in crevices and that will create mildew or possibly even mold in your bathroom over time.

Don’ts

Rush Your Timeline

Once you have all your ideas in place, you have taken the measurements and picked out all your finishes so you probably wanted it done yesterday. This is going to take time, so if you are getting quotes or estimates from a contractor be wary of those who promise it on a much shorter timeline. You want to make sure if you are changing plumbing or wiring you are hiring someone who is going to do it right. Do not think that faster means better because if often does not. Be prepared to have a wait until it is done, and that could either be in labour or a delay in purchased products from the factory.

Skimp on Labour Costs

It can be really appealing to do it all yourself, but if you are undertaking a complete bathroom renovation you may need a skilled trade to help you out such as plumbing or an electrician. As mentioned be wary of those who offer a cheap and quick turnaround: those who are good at what they do in the skilled trades will not come cheap and that is for a reason. The good ones are up to date on building codes, regulations and legitimately know what they are doing. This is a really important area to not skimp on.

Cheap Out on Materials

Items in your bathroom that are going to get used every day are not the ones you want to find the bargain materials on. Materials like the one you use for the vanity countertop are going to face daily wear and tear so take into consideration the quality of material you are using here. Same goes for the tile surround you use for either your tub or walk in shower. Materials you will touch daily will wear faster, so think about where you want to invest your money.

Forget about Tomorrow

You may have certain needs now, but that may not always be the case. So stop and think for a minute if this massive renovation is going to work for you should something happen to you or will it continue to be functional as you age.

Purchase Products Online without Seeing Them

Online shopping is great for getting ideas and design tips but just because it looks great in the photos you saw online doesn’t mean it will look the same way in your bathroom. You should always see renovation products before you purchase them since these are massive purchases.

Forget About Storage

No one wants to be running from the nice, hot shower to the cold hallway where the linen closet is early in the morning every morning. So when you are doing this renovation you need to strongly consider how much storage you have, and if you are currently doing this early morning shuffle this is an opportunity for you to create some storage in your bathroom so needed items, like towels, are easily accessible on demand.

No matter how big or small your bathroom renovation is it is incredibly important to consider these dos and don’ts so you can enjoy your brand new bathroom for years to come.